Period Dress — A reflection of the times

Have you ever noticed how social attitudes, public decorum, accepted behavior, and fashion seem to go hand in hand? Consider, for example, the early Victorian era. Both men and women of class wore fancy garb. An upper class woman's gowns modestly covered her body more or less from head to toe. High collars were worn in public, and men, too, were garbed from top to bottom. (Interestingly, in the 16th century, a woman's breasts could be partly or even totally exposed, and this was the accepted norm.)

During the first part of the Victorian era, a woman's job was to manage the home for her husband, whose only domestic duty was to make the money to run the household. She must be virtuous, obedient, faithful, and devoid of any intellectual opinion or pursuit. The man, however, could have a mistress (also expected to be faithful) and/or an afternoon or evening dalliance at a man's club.

Near the end of that era, women began to come into their own; not long thereafter, we have the roaring twenties and the day of the flapper. How times had changed! The independent woman could enjoy an exciting night life in a sexy dress without  a man escorting her and without judgment from her peers. In fact, her peers were probably there with her. Speakeasies and roadsters created handy entertainment and mobility, and nobody foresaw the impending crash of '29 that ended it all. The Great Depression with its simple, basic garb and incredibly hard times brought reality back with a vengeance. The glamorous twenties were all but forgotten in the struggles to keep a roof overhead and food in the stomach.

World War II brought yet another change in dress as men headed into battle and women took over the factory jobs that kept the troops and the country running. By the end of the war, nearly 25% of married women worked outside the home, and their independence was reflected in their choice of stylish, professional clothing. Chic fashions marked the mid to late 40s as the great actresses on the silver screen donned well-designed day and evening wear as they stepped out into the world of men.

Along came the fifties and sixties and the counterculture hippie movement back to basics. Then came the rockers, the druggies, and the increasing rebellion against accepted societal norms. Protests against the Vietnam War made headlines. Values were changing. Fashions came and went until today, where we have X-rated gowns designed to barely cover minimal parts of actresses who try to outdo one another in the shock category as they walk the red carpet to some entertainment awards event. Genders have melded together so that one may not be certain whether the person they see is male or female. Social attitudes, public decorum, accepted behavior, and fashion continue to go hand in hand as trends march forward to who knows where.

What does all this have to do with writing? Everything. Whether you write historical fiction, flapper-era mysteries, 1940s romances, modern day thrillers, or something in between, your readers expect to be transported seamlessly to the time and place of your story. Your characters had better be properly attired for the ride because a significant number of those readers will know if you get it wrong.

Editor Linda Lane has returned to her first love—writing—while maintaining her editing work. She also helps new and not-so-new writers improve their skills through posts on Blood Red Pencil and offers private mentoring as well. You can contact her through her writing website, LSLaneBooks.com. Also, you can visit her at DenverEditor.com.